Belleek Castle

Belleek Castle sits on the wooded banks of the River Moy just outside Ballina in County Mayo, surrounded by the 1,000-acre Belleek Woods. Built in the 1820s on the site of an earlier abbey, the castle was once the seat of the Knox-Gore family and has since been transformed into a characterful hotel, restaurant and museum that visitors can tour even if they are not staying overnight.

Guided tours take in the medieval-style banqueting hall, the armoury collection assembled by former owner Marshall Doran, suits of armour, weapons spanning several centuries, and a fossil and shipwreck collection said to include timbers from the Spanish Armada. The atmospheric stone-vaulted cellars house a bar set among artefacts, while the upper rooms display period furnishings and curiosities gathered over a lifetime of collecting.

Outside, the surrounding Belleek Woods offer waymarked riverside walks alongside the Moy, popular with birdwatchers and anglers. The castle makes a useful base for exploring north Mayo, with Ballina town centre, Killala Bay and the Ceide Fields all within easy reach.